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"Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
and
"Six Not So Easy Pieces" a collection of lectures by Richard Feynman

The first is the essential starting point in any inquiry into the basics of American democracy, and provides a view of the process that is over 150 years old. This lets one see how things have changed.

The second is an edited transcript of lectures given by Dr. Feynman, at Cal-Tech, 1961-1965. It is stunning how brilliant this man was. Another great read about/by him is "Surely Your Joking Mr. Feynman".

Wow, To Kill a Mockingbird is definitely one of those you somehow missed when you were a kid! Canuck, I think you'll like it... lots about social justice and doing what's right whether or not it's popular. And remember that Scout's little friend was based on her real life childhood friend, Truman Capote.

It seems like there is this whole sub-genre in American required school reading based on private boys' schools. Another one to go along with that is A Separate Peace. I don't know why there are so many of them... I guess it probably had to do with where the predominant authors were coming from in the middle of the 20th century.

Last book I finished was Irving's "A Widow for One Year". I was surprised to see in the LA Times this morning that the first part of that book has been turned into a movie that's coming out, called "A Door in the Floor".

I'm kind of picky about books and authors now, I just don't get much time to read any more. I have several books backed up.

It seems like there is this whole sub-genre in American required school reading based on private boys' schools. Another one to go along with that is A Separate Peace. I don't know why there are so many of them... I guess it probably had to do with where the predominant authors were coming from in the middle of the 20th century.